Hi hello hi pals and welcome back to the small space on the web which I call my own. If you’re new here then welcome, I hope you stick around. March 2020 has almost reached an end and considering the current climate this is somehow the first time I’ve managed to sit down and put my thoughts into writing.
With the end of 2019 seeing many bloggers and influencers alike vowing to combat fast fashion and stop needlessly buying new clothes, shoes and well you name it… It’s safe to say that many of these thoughts and promises have been forgotten as quickly as they were concieved. It’s got me thinking that maybe it’s time to take a more realistic approach to sustainable fashion, and our impact as a community and as individuals on the planet (I know I sound a tad dramatic but you get my drift).
Today I wanted to touch on my approach to fashion in 2020 because my outlook has changed a little from where it was this time last year. I mean in no way am I saying for even a second that I’m not going to purchase new items, or receive them for that matter. But I’m trying to make a more conscious decision before buying or receiving items based on a couple of factors (I’ll get to these soon I promise).
I’ve recently sorted through my wardrobe and found that there are many many items to my embarrassment with tags on, that have only been worn once or twice or that were bought for the sole purpose of the ‘gram. I hate to admit that not only is this a total waste of money (think of all the things the money could have been better spent on). It’s also not very sustainable and it’s encouraging other’s to buy things they don’t need when they probably have something similar at home just because it appears to be ‘in fashion‘. Surely there’s a way of being ‘inspo‘ that doesn’t encourage the use of needlessly buying new things? Maybe we need to be more transparent as individuals on what is new or old and better at showing looks that incorporate both new and old items, it’s just something to consider perhaps…
Following the wardrobe cull it’s become apparent that I tend to only wear a handful of clothes; either to work, to socialise in or just around the house. I’m not sure about you but when I have an occasion to attend I often buy something new to wear but end up wearing something that was already in my wardobe. I think it’s a comfort thing to be honest and I’ve come to realise that it is totally fine to wear the same thing more than once (despite Instagram encouraging me to wear something new) because let’s be honest my friends and family don’t care what I’m wearing.
Since sharing my outfits on Instagram I’ve been sucked into wearing items that are ‘in fashion’. When in all honesty I’m not really a fan of wearing bright colours, mad prints or current styles because they just aren’t me. These are the items that sadly were photographed for the ‘gram and still have tags on, never to be worn again. I’ve made the decision that going forward I won’t be buying these kind of items because I’m content in the simple fact that I like basic prints and more neutral colours, I don’t need to feel pressured by the ‘gram.
I guess what I’m trying to say, in amongst all the rambling is that it’s totally ok to wear the same thing more than once I.e. to a wedding or occasion. I wore an old Topshop fav to a wedding recently (and to the wedding before) and when asked where it was from almost felt reluctant to say it was a couple of years old… If we learn to accessorize a bit more creatively then it’s so easy to create a whole new look with the things we already have. We can layer for the varying seasons, wear different shoes, bags, jewellery you name it.
One more thing I’d like to add is that I’m trying to steer away from ‘fashion jewellery’ as such, by fashion jewellery I mean the stuff that turns your ears and fingers green. I’d rather invest in a couple of pieces of jewellery that I love and adore that mean something to me, rather than something cheap which will tarnish and be thrown away without thought or consideration. I’ve recently re-discovered my Pandora (a treasure I’d almost forgotten about) and have curated a small collection of ear jewellery that I don’t change because they suit me down to a T. These pieces have certainly cost more money than simply buying earrings from the likes of Primark or New Look but I don’t think I’ll tire of these pieces any time soon.
So there you have it, a few small realisations and ways in which I’m trying to change my approach to fashion in 2020. I hope that you enjoyed this post and that there are some points that make you consider your choices going forward.
Thanks for reading,
Love Saff x
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